Seat belt device

ABSTRACT

A seat belt device allowing easy connection of a lap anchor fixed to one end of a seat belt relative to a vehicle body or the like even when a seat weight sensor is installed below a vehicle seat. The seat weight sensor and the vehicle seat are fixed to a vehicle body floor. A hitch member is attached to the seat weight sensor via a mounting bracket by a bolt. A lap anchor is fixed to one end of a seat belt. By locking the lap anchor to the hitch member, the seat belt is connected to the seat weight sensor. In this manner, the seat belt can be easily connected to the vehicle body just by locking the lap anchor to the hitch member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/718,543 filed on Nov. 24, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention pertains to a technical field of a seatbelt device of which a seat belt for restraining and protecting anoccupant sitting on a vehicle seat is connected to a vehicle body on aside of the vehicle seat and, particularly, to a technical field of aseat belt device for a vehicle seat which is provided at its lowerportion with a seat weight sensor for measuring a seat load applied tothe vehicle seat.

[0003] Conventionally, a seat belt device installed in a vehicle such asan automobile prevents an occupant from jumping out of a vehicle seat byrestraining the occupant with a seat belt thereof, thereby protectingthe occupant in the event of emergency.

[0004] As such seat belt device, three-point-type seat belt deviceswhich are conventionally well known are generally employed. In athree-point-type seat belt device, one end of a seat belt is connectedto a vehicle body or a vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body on a sideof the vehicle seat via a lap anchor fixed to the seat belt, while theother end of the seat belt is connected to a seat belt retractor. Inthis case, a middle portion of the seat belt is guided by a deflectivefitting attached to an upper portion of a side of the vehicle body.

[0005] When the seat belt is not worn, the seat belt is wound by theseat belt retractor and is positioned to extend along the side of thevehicle body. By latching a tongue slidably supported by the seat beltwith a buckle fixed to the vehicle body on the opposite side of the lapanchor side about the vehicle seat, an occupant sitting in the vehicleseat puts on the seat belt. In this state, a portion of the seat beltbetween the tongue and the deflective fitting (seat belt retractor side)functions as a shoulder belt for restraining and protecting an upperbody of the occupant from his or her shoulder to his or her chest, whilea portion of the seat belt between the tongue and the lap anchorfunctions as a lap belt for restraining and protecting a lower body ofthe occupant such as his or her abdomen.

[0006] On the other hand, in recent years, it has been developed tocontrol the action of the seat belt device depending on the weight (bodyweight) of the occupant. In such seat belt device, a seat weight sensorfor measuring the seat load, applied to the vehicle seat by the weightof the occupant and the like, is installed below the vehicle seat andbetween the vehicle seat and a vehicle body floor. By controlling theaction of the seat belt device depending on the weight of the occupantbased on the seat load measured by the seat weight sensor, the occupantcan be effectively restrained by the seat belt, as described in JapanesePatent Unexamined Publication No. H11-304579, and Japanese PatentUnexamined Publication No. H11-351952 (both incorporated by reference).

[0007] In the seat belt device for the vehicle seat which is provided atits lower portion with the seat weight sensor, the lap anchor forconnecting one end of the seat belt to a vehicle body is positioned on aside of the seat weight sensor. However, since convex structuralcomponents of the vehicle body such as a pillar and a side silldepending on the vehicle structure exist on the side of the seat weightsensor, the space on the side of the seat weight sensor must besignificantly narrow. Therefore, it is a bother and thus difficult toconnect the lap anchor fixed to the end of the seat belt to the vehiclebody floor or the vehicle seat or the seat weight sensor fixed to thevehicle body so that the work for this must require a lot of labor andtime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a seat beltdevice which allows easy connection of a lap anchor fixed to one end ofa seat belt relative to a vehicle body or the like even when a seatweight sensor is installed below a vehicle seat.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention a seat beltdevice is provided. The device includes a seat belt for restraining andprotecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, and a lap anchor fixedto an end of the seat belt, wherein the seat belt is connected to avehicle body on a side of the vehicle seat via the lap anchor, a seatweight sensor installed below the vehicle seat measures a seat loadapplied to the vehicle seat, and the action of the seat belt device iscontrolled on the basis of the measured value of the seat load, and ahitch member is attached to either one of the vehicle body, the vehicleseat fixed to the vehicle body, or the seat weight sensor fixed to thevehicle body; and that the lap anchor is locked to the hitch member.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a seatbelt device is provided that includes a seat belt for restraining andprotecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lap anchor fixed toan end of the seat belt, wherein the seat belt is connected to a vehiclebody on a side of the vehicle seat via the lap anchor; and a seat weightsensor installed below the vehicle seat which is configured to measure aseat load applied to the vehicle seat. The action of the seat beltdevice is controlled on the basis of the seat load measured by the seatweight sensor. The device also includes a hitch member locked to the lapanchor. The hitch member may include one end attached to one of thevehicle body, the vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body, and the seatweight sensor fixed to the vehicle body, a portion extended rearwards,and a second end fixed to the vehicle body so that the hitch memberforms a slide bar. The lap anchor is slidably attached to the slide barsuch that the lap anchor can slide along the slide bar.

[0011] According to another embodiment of he present invention the slidebar may be fixed by the insertion of a mounting bolt extending in thevertical direction of the vehicle.

[0012] The present invention may further include a locking member forpreventing the release of the locking between the lap anchor and thehitch member.

[0013] The hitch member of an embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a slide bar of which one end is attached to the seat weightsensor, which extends from the one end toward the rear of the vehicle,and of which the other end is attached to the vehicle body and that thelap anchor is connected to the slide bar such that the lap anchor ismovable along the slide bar. According to embodiments of the presentinvention, an end of the seat belt can be easily connected to a vehiclebody even when a seat weight sensor is installed below a vehicle seat,just by locking a lap anchor fixed to the end of the seat belt to ahitch member attached to either one of the vehicle body, the vehicleseat fixed to the vehicle body, or the seat weight sensor fixed to thevehicle body. Accordingly, the labor and time required for connectingthe seat belt can be significantly reduced, thus improving theworkability and the productivity.

[0014] Since the locking member is provided, the locking between the lapanchor and the hitch member is prevented from being easily released bythe locking member.

[0015] Further, according to another embodiment, in case that the seatbelt device is installed to a vehicle such as a vehicle of two-doortype, when a rear seat passenger is about to get on or off the vehicle,the lap anchor is moved along the slide bar so that the lap anchor isset at its standby position and then the rear seat passenger gets on oroff the vehicle. Therefore, the lap belt does not disturb the action ofthe passenger because the lap anchor is set at the standby position,thereby allowing the passenger to easily get in or out of the vehicle.After the passenger gets in the vehicle, an occupant sitting on a frontseat can normally put on the seat belt by setting the lap anchor at itsworking position.

[0016] Further, according to another embodiment, when the slide bar isdirectly attached to the vehicle seat or the vehicle body, in the eventof relatively light collision of the vehicle, the load applied from theseat belt to the slide bar may be transmitted to the vehicle seat or thevehicle body. In other words, as the load is not transmitted to the seatweight sensor, the performance of the seat weight sensor can be ensuredin the event of a relatively light collision of the vehicle.

[0017] Further, according to another embodiment, as the mounting boltfor mounting the slide bar may be fastened to extend in the verticaldirection of the vehicle, an easy installation of the slide bar may beachieved, thus improving the assembling work of the slide bar.

[0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexemplary only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description, appendedclaims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawings, which are briefly described below.

[0020]FIG. 1 is an illustration schematically showing an example of anembodiment of a seat belt device according to the present invention thatis adopted to a three-point seat belt device.

[0021] FIGS. 2(a), 2(b) specifically show portions of the seat beltdevice of an embodiment wherein FIG. 2(a) is a rear view partiallyshowing the seat belt device and FIG. 2(b) is a side view partiallyshowing the seat belt device.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a lap anchorand a hitch member used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b).

[0023] FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) are illustrations similar to FIGS. 2(a), 2(b),but showing another embodiment of the present invention wherein FIG.4(a) is a rear view partially showing the seat belt device and FIG. 4(b)is a side view partially showing the seat belt device.

[0024] FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) are illustrations similar to FIGS. 2(a), 2(b),but showing still another embodiment of the present invention whereinFIG. 5(a) is a rear view partially showing the seat belt device and FIG.5(b) is a side view partially showing the seat belt device.

[0025] FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) schematically show a lap anchor and a hitchmember used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) wherein FIG.6(a) is a perspective view thereof and FIG. 6(b) is an illustrationshowing the locked state.

[0026]FIG. 7 is similar to FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) but schematically showing alap anchor and a hitch member of further another embodiment of thepresent invention wherein FIG. 7 is a perspective view thereof.

[0027] FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) are illustrations similar to FIG. 1, but showingvariation examples of the present invention wherein FIG. 8(a) shows avariation example and FIG. 8(b) shows another variation example.

[0028]FIG. 9 is an illustration schematically and partially showing alap anchor and a hitch member according to further another embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0029] FIGS. 10(a)-10(e) show a portion including the seat weight sensorand a slide bar shown in FIG. 9, wherein FIG. 10(a) is a plan viewthereof, FIG. 10(b) is a side view thereof, FIG. 10(c) is a sectionalview taken along a line XC-XC in FIG. 10(b), FIG. 10(d) is a partialview of a side wall of a mounting bracket when seen in a direction ofarrow XD in FIG. 10(a), and FIG. 10(e) is a partial view of the slidebar at a portion XE in FIG. 10(a).

[0030] FIGS. 11(a), 11(b) are illustrations for explaining theattachment of the slide bar to the weight sensor, wherein FIG. 11(a) isa partially exploded view of one end side of the slide bar and FIG.11(b) is a partially exploded view of the other end side of the slidebar at a portion XIB in FIG. 10(b).

[0031] FIGS. 12(a), 12(b) show another example of the mounting portionbetween the seat weight sensor and the slide bar, wherein FIGS. 12(a)and 12(b) are sectional views similar to FIGS. 10(d) and 10(e).

[0032]FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10(c) showing avariation of the mounting portion between the seat weight sensor and theslide bar.

[0033]FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing another example ofthe mounting structure of the slide bar.

[0034]FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing still anotherexample of the mounting structure of the slide bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the attached drawings.

[0036]FIG. 1 is an illustration schematically showing an example towhich an embodiment of a seat belt device according to the presentinvention is adopted to a three-point seat belt device, and FIGS. 2(a),2(b) specifically show portions of the seat belt device of thisembodiment wherein FIG. 2(a) is a rear view partially showing the seatbelt device and FIG. 2(b) is a side view partially showing the seat beltdevice.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat belt device 1 of this embodiment isa three-point seat belt device which comprises a seat belt 2, a seatbelt retractor 3 for winding up the seat belt 2, a deflective fitting 4attached to a vehicle body such as a center pillar, and a tongue 5slidably supported by the seat belt 2. The seat belt device 1 comprisesa buckle 6 to which the tongue 5 is detachably latched and a lap anchor7 fixed to an end opposite to the end of the seat belt 2 to which theretractor 3 is connected. However, there is a different point from theconventional seat belt device that the buckle 6 and the lap anchor 7 areattached to a vehicle seat 9 provided at its lower portion with a seatweight sensor (described later) or attached to the seat weight sensor(in the example shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), the lap anchor 7 is attachedto the seat weight sensor). All the seat belt 2, the seat belt retractor3, the deflective fitting 4, the tongue 5 and the buckle 6 are the sameas used in the conventional typical three-point seat belt device, thatis, well known, so the detail description of these components will beomitted.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), similarly to the seat beltdevices disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent UnexaminedPublication No. H11-304579, and Japanese Patent Unexamined PublicationNo. H11-351952 (both incorporated by reference)., a seat rail 10 isfixed below the vehicle seat 9 and a seat bracket 12 is fixed to avehicle body floor 11 such that the seat weight sensor 8 is disposedbetween the seat rail 10 and the seat bracket 12, i.e. below the vehicleseat 9. This seat weight sensor 8 is designed to measure the loadapplied to the vehicle seat 9. The seat weight sensor 8 is also the sameas disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent UnexaminedPublication No. H11-304579 and Japanese Patent Unexamined PublicationNo. H11-351952 (both incorporated by reference), so the detaileddescription of this will be omitted. It should be noted that the seatweight sensor 8 is not limited to the seat weight sensor disclosed inJapanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H11-304579 and JapanesePatent Unexamined Publication No. H11-351952 (both incorporated byreference), and may be another seat weight sensor which isconventionally known.

[0039] Between the seat rail 10 and the seat weight sensor 8, the seatweight sensor 8 is provided with a mounting bracket 13. A hitch member14 is attached to the mounting bracket 13 by a bolt 15. As schematicallyshown in FIG. 3, the hitch member 14 has a casing 14 a, and a supportingmember 14 c to which the casing 14 a is supported by a mounting pin 14h. The supporting member 14 c is attached to a mounting bracket 13.

[0040] On the other hand, the lap anchor 7 is fixed to an end 2 a of theseat belt 2 opposite to the retractor side by folding a portion of theseat belt 2 after passed through a hole 7 a of the lap anchor 7 and thensewing together the folded portion. The lap anchor 7 comprises anengaging hook 7 b having an engaging concavity 7 b ₁. By inserting theengaging hook 7 b into the casing 14 a through an insertion opening 14 a₁ formed in the casing 14 a of the hitch member 14 and engaging theengaging hook 7 b with an engageable portion which is not shown, the lapanchor 7 is locked to the hitch member 14 [FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show astate where the lap anchor 7 is locked to the hitch member 14].

[0041] Though the locking mechanism between the lap anchor 7 and thehitch member 14 is not concretely shown in FIG. 3, the locking mechanismmay be any of conventionally known locking mechanisms, such as aconventionally known locking mechanism between a buckle and a tongue,which can lock the lap anchor 7 to the hitch member 14 when the lapanchor 7 is inserted into the casing. Therefore, the concretedescription of the locking mechanism will be omitted. Moreover, the lapanchor 7 and the hitch member 14 may be designed not to allow therelease of the locking therebetween or may be designed to allow therelease of the locking therebetween by means of a release operationmember such as a release button. When the lap anchor 7 and the hitchmember 14 are designed to allow the release of the locking therebetween,it is preferable that the release operation is a difficult task.

[0042] In the seat belt device 1 of this embodiment having theaforementioned structure, the seat weight sensor 8 and the vehicle seat9 are fixed to the vehicle body floor 11 in a state that the hitchmember 14 is previously mounted to the seat weight sensor 8 via themounting bracket 13 and the bolt 15 and, after that, the lap anchor 7fixed to the end 2 a of the seat belt 2 is locked to the hitch member 14as mentioned above, thereby connecting the end 2 a of the seat belt 2 tothe hitch member 14 (that is, the vehicle body).

[0043] Therefore, according to the seat belt device 1 of thisembodiment, the end 2 a of the seat belt 2 can be easily connected tothe hitch member 14 just by locking the lap anchor 7 to the hitch member14 even when the seat weight sensor 8 is installed under the vehicleseat 9. Accordingly, the labor and time required for connecting the seatbelt 2 can be significantly reduced, thus improving the workability andthe productivity.

[0044] Since the buckle 6 and the hitch member 14 are attached to theseat weight sensor 8, the seat weight sensor 8 is prevented from beinginfluenced by belt tension from the buckle 6 side or belt tension fromthe hitch member 14 side so that the seat weight sensor 8 can detect theactual seat load.

[0045] FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) are illustrations showing another embodiment ofthe present invention. In the following description of respectiveembodiments, the same components as those of the preceding embodiment(s)are marked with the same numerals, so detail description of thecomponents will be omitted.

[0046] Though the hitch member 14 is attached to the seat weight sensor8 in the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), a hitchmember 14 is attached to a side 9 a of a vehicle seat 9 in a seat beltdevice 1 of this embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4(a), 4(b)

[0047] The other structure of the seat belt device of this embodiment isthe same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. Theworks and effects of the seat belt device 1 of this embodiment are alsothe same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3.

[0048] FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) are illustrations similar to FIGS. 2(a), 2(b),but showing another embodiment of the present invention and FIGS. 6(a),6(b) schematically show a lap anchor and a hitch member used in thisembodiment wherein FIG. 6(a) is a rear view thereof and FIG. 6(b) is aside view thereof.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), a hitch member 14 of a seat beltdevice 1 is attached to a seat weight sensor 8 similarly to theembodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b). The hitch member 14 is attached tothe seat weight sensor 8 using a mounting bracket 13 and a bolt 15 inthe same manner as shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b).

[0050] In the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), theengaging hook 7 b of the lap anchor 7 is inserted into the casing 14 aof the hitch member 14 and is engaged with the engageable portion insidethe casing. As shown in FIG. 6(a), however, the structures and thelocking method of the hitch member 14 and the lap anchor 7 of the seatbelt device 1 according to this embodiment are different from theembodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b). That is, the hitch member 14 ofthis embodiment has a body 14 d composed of a rectangular flat plate, acylindrical engageable portion 14 b formed on a portion near one end ofthe body 14 d, and a circular mounting hole 14 e formed in a portionnear the other end of the body 14 d through which the mounting bolt 15is inserted. In this case, formed at the end of the engageable portion14 b is a circular falling preventive flange 14 f which has a diameterlarger than the diameter of the engageable portion 14 b.

[0051] On the other hand, the lap anchor 7 is composed of a rectangularflat plate similarly to the body 14 d of the hitch member 14 and has ahole 7 a formed in a portion near an end, through which the end 2 a ofthe seat belt 2 is passed. A portion of the lap anchor 7 extending fromthe middle to the other end is an engaging portion 7 b. The engagingportion 7 b is provided with an engaging hole 7 c which is formed in aguitar-shape comprising a large diameter hole 7 c ₁, a small diameterhole 7 c ₂, and a boundary portion 7 c ₃ at which the holes 7 c ₁ and 7c ₂ are partly superposed on each other. The diameter of the largediameter hole 7 c ₁ is set to be larger than the diameter of the fallingpreventive flange 14 f so that the flange 14 f can pass through thelarge diameter hole 7 c ₁. The diameter of the small diameter hole 7 c ₂is set to be larger than the diameter of the engageable portion 14 b andsmaller than the diameter of the flange 14 f so that the engageableportion 14 b can pass through the small diameter hole 7 c ₂, but thefalling preventive flange 14 f can not pass through the small diameterhole 7 c ₂. Further, the width of the boundary portion 7 c ₃ between thelarge diameter hole 7 c ₁ and the small diameter hole 7 c ₂ is set toallow the engageable portion 14 b to pass through the boundary portion 7c ₃.

[0052] Further, a locking member 16 is provided. The locking member 16comprises a body 16 a having such a diameter that it can be fitted inthe large diameter hole 7 c ₁ and can not pass through the boundaryportion 7 c ₃, a circular flange 16 b which is formed on one end of thebody 16 a and has such a diameter that it can not be fitted in the largediameter hole 7 c ₁, and a retaining portion 16 c which is formed in theperipheries of the body 16 a and the circular flange 16 b and has an arcconcave shape of which diameter is the same as the diameter of theengageable portion 14 b.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the mounting bracket 13 is fixedto the seat weight sensor 8. The lap anchor 7 fixed to the seat belt 2is brought to encircle the engageable portion 14 b and the fallingpreventive flange 14 of the hitch member 14, secured to the mountingbracket 13 by the bolt 15, such that the large diameter hole 7 c ₁ ofthe lap anchor 7 passes over the falling preventive flange 14 f and ispositioned around the engageable portion 14 b. After that, the lapanchor 7 is moved to pass the boundary portion 7 c ₃ such that theengageable portion 14 b is positioned in the small hole 7 c ₂. As shownin FIG. 6(b), in the state that the lap anchor 7 is in contact with thebody 14 d of the hitch member 14, the body 16 a of the locking member 16is fitted into the large-diameter hole 7 c ₁ such a manner that theretaining portion 16 c faces the outer surface of the engageable portion14 b.

[0054] At this point, the body 16 a of the locking member 16 is almostsandwiched between the falling preventive flange 14 f and the body 14 dso that the locking member 16 is prevented from falling off by thefalling preventive flange 14 f. In this state, the retaining portion 16c of the locking member 16 faces the outer surface of the engageableportion 14 b, thereby preventing the engageable portion 14 b fromshifting toward the large diameter hole 7 c ₁. Therefore, the lockingbetween the hitch member 14 and the lap anchor 7 is ensured, therebypreventing undesirable release between the hitch member 14 and the lapanchor 7. In this manner, the lap anchor 7 fixed to the end 2 a of theseat belt 2 is locked to the hitch member 14 so that the seat belt 2 isconnected to the hitch member 14, i.e. the vehicle body.

[0055] The other structure, works and effects of the seat belt device 1of this embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.1 through FIG. 3. The hitch member 14 of this embodiment may be attachedto the vehicle seat 9 similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4(a),4(b).

[0056]FIG. 7 is an illustration similar to FIG. 6(a), but showinganother embodiment of the present invention and schematically showing alap anchor and a hitch member employed in this embodiment.

[0057] In the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), thelap anchor 7 is locked to the hitch member 14 by inserting theengageable portion 14 b projecting from the body 14 a of the hitchmember 14 into the guitar-shaped engaging hole 7 c of the lap anchor 7,and the release between the lap anchor 7 and the hitch member 14 isprevented by means of the locking member 16. In a seat belt device 1 ofthis embodiment, however, the structures of a hitch member 14 and a lapanchor 7 and the locking method thereof are different from those of theembodiment shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b).

[0058] That is, the hitch member 14 of this embodiment has a column-likebody 14 d and a circular or square ring-like engageable portion 14 gwhich is attached to one end of the body 14 d in such a manner as toswing or not to swing. The body 14 d is provided with an external thread14 d ₁ for fixing the hitch member 14 which is formed from a middleportion to the other end of the body 14 d.

[0059] Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), the lapanchor 7 has a hole 7 a formed in a portion near an end through whichthe end 2 a of the seat belt 2 is passed, and a portion of the lapanchor 7 extending from the middle to the other end is an engagingportion 7 b. However, the engaging portion 7 b is different from that ofthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and is a hook-like engagingportion 7 b. The hook-like engaging portion 7 b is provided with ahooking pawl 7 d ₂ forming an engaging concavity 7 d ₁.

[0060] The lap anchor 7 has a pawl-like locking member 17 which ispivotally disposed for closing the opening of the engaging concavity 7 d₁. The radius of gyration of the locking member 17 and the configurationand the size of the engaging concavity 7 d ₁ are set such that when thelocking member 17 is in a position closing the opening of the engagingconcavity 7 d ₁ as shown by solid lines, the locking member 17 is incontact with the hooking pawl 7 d ₂ and is thus prevented from rotatingin the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 7, and when the lockingmember 17 is rotated at a certain angle in the clockwise direction inFIG. 7 as shown by dotted lines, the locking member 17 can be rotatedwithout colliding with the ring-like engageable portion 14 g positionedat the left side in FIG. 7 inside the engaging concavity 7 d ₁.

[0061] Further, a retaining pin 18 is provided for retaining the lockingmember 17 in the position closing the opening of the engaging concavity7 d ₁. The retaining pin 18 is inserted into retaining holes 17 a (theretaining hole of the lap anchor 7 is not shown) which are formed in thelocking member 17 and the lap anchor 7, respectively and are alignedwhen the locking member 17 is in the position closing the opening of theengaging concavity 7 d ₁, thereby retaining the locking member 17 inthis position.

[0062] The hitch member 14 is attached to the seat weight sensor 8similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) or to the vehicleseat 9 similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4(a), 4(b). Thehook-like engaging portion 7 d of the lap anchor 7 is engaged with thering-like engageable portion 14 g of the hitch member 14. In this case,the ring-like engageable portion 14 g is passed through the opening ofthe engaging concavity 7 d ₁ and is then positioned on the left side inFIG. 7 inside the engaging concavity 7 d ₁. In this state, the lockingmember 17 is rotated in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 7 to theposition closing the opening of the engaging concavity 7 d ₁. Afterthat, the retaining pin 18 is inserted into the retaining holes 17 a. Inthis manner, the lap anchor 7 fixed to the end 2 a of the seat belt 2 issecured to the hitch member 14 so that the seat belt 2 is connected tothe hitch member 14, i.e. the vehicle body.

[0063] The other structure, works and effects of the seat belt device 1of this embodiment are the same as those of the aforementionedembodiment shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b).

[0064] Though both the buckle 6 and the hitch member 14 are attached tothe seat weight sensor 8 or the vehicle seat 9 in any of theaforementioned embodiments, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the hitch member 14 may beattached to the vehicle body floor 11 while the buckle 6 is attached tothe seat weight sensor 8. As shown in FIG. 8(b), both the buckle 6 andthe hitch member 14 may be attached to the vehicle body floor 11.Further, the buckle 6 may be attached to the vehicle body floor whilethe hitch member 14 is attached to the seat weight sensor 8, but thiscase is not shown. In these cases, however, the seat weight sensor 8 isinfluenced by belt tension from the buckle side and/or the hitch memberside fixed to the vehicle body floor 11 so that the seat weight sensor 8can not detect the actual seat load. Accordingly, it is necessary tocompensate the belt tension influencing relative to the seat weightsensor 8. Therefore, it is preferable that both the buckle 6 and thehitch member 14 are attached to the seat weight sensor 8 or the vehicleseat 9.

[0065]FIG. 9 is an illustration schematically and partially showing alap anchor and a hitch member according to further another embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 9, in a seat belt device 1 of this embodiment, amounting bracket 13 is attached to a seat rail 10 so as to service notonly as the mounting bracket but also as the pin bracket (see PatentDocument 1) for transmitting the seat load to the seat weight sensor 8.Attached to the mounting bracket 13 is an end of a slide bar 19 whichalso functions as the hitch member. The slide bar 19 extends along oneof the both lateral sides of the vehicle body toward the rear of thevehicle so that the other end of the slide bar 19 is fixed to thevehicle body such as a floor 11.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), a portion of the slide bar 19on the one end side is substantially curved in a U shape to compose ahitch portion 19 a. The end 19 b of the hitch portion 19 a is attachedto side walls 13 a of the mounting bracket 13. In this case, as shown inFIG. 10(c) and FIG. 11(a), a mounting bolt 20 is inserted, in thelateral direction (left/right direction) of the vehicle, into aring-shape wave washer 21, a ring-shape spacer 22, holes 13 b formed inthe both side walls 13 a, a ring-shape spacer 23, a wave washer 24, abush (or collar) 25, a CS ring 26, and a hole 19 c formed in the end 19b of the slide bar 19 and is screwed with a nut 27, thereby attachingthe one end side of the slide bar 19 to the mounting bracket 13. In thiscase, the holes 13 b formed in the both side walls 13 a are each formedinto such a circular shape allowing the insertion of the mounting bolt20 with very little space as shown in FIG. 10(d).

[0068] As shown in FIG. 10(e), the slide bar 19 is also provided with anelongated hole 19 e formed in the other end 19 d thereof. As shown inFIG. 11(b), after a mounting bolt 28 is inserted into a ring-shape wavewasher 29, a ring-shape spacer 30, the hole 19 e of the slid bar 19, abush 31, a plane washer 32, and a CS ring 33, the mounting bolt 28 isscrewed into an internal thread formed in the vehicle body, therebyfixing the other end side of the slide bar 19 to the vehicle body. Sincethe hole 19 e is an elongated hole, the alignment relative to the holes13 b of the mounting bracket 13 and the hole 19 c of the end 19 b of theslide bar 19 can be easily and securely performed, thus facilitating theinsertion of the mounting bolt.

[0069] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, a lap anchor 7 is formedat the end of a lap belt portion 2 b of a seat belt 2. The lap anchor 7is formed in a loop shape by sewing the end of the lap belt portion 2 ain the folded state (the sewn portion is marked with A). The loop-shapelap anchor 7 is coupled with the slide bar 19 so that the lap anchor 7can slide relative to slide bar 19. Therefore, the loop-shape lap anchor7 can be guided along the slide bar 19 to move between its workingposition a on the curved hitch portion 19 a of the slide bar 19 and itsstandby position β behind the working position a.

[0070] In the seat belt device 1 of this embodiment having theaforementioned structure, when an occupant is seated and is about to puton the seat belt 2, the occupant first sets the lap anchor 7 at theworking position a and then inserts a tongue 5 into a buckle 6 to latchsimilarly to conventional seat belt devices. In this manner, the seatbelt 2 is put on. Since the lap anchor 7 is positioned at the curvedportion of the hitch portion 19 a of the slide bar 19, tensile forceacting on the lap belt portion 2 b acts in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the curved portion of the hitch portion 19 a.Therefore, the lap anchor 7 is prevented from moving from the workingposition a, whereby the seat belt 2 can securely restrain and protectthe occupant in the event of emergency.

[0071] For example, in case that the seat belt device 1 of thisembodiment is installed to a vehicle of two-door type, when a rear seatpassenger is about to get in or out of the vehicle, the lap anchor 7 isset at the standby position β so as to allow the rear seat passenger toget on or off the vehicle. When the passenger gets in or out of thevehicle, the lap belt 2 b does not disturb the action of the passengerbecause the lap anchor 7 is set at the standby position β, therebyallowing the passenger to easily get in or out of the vehicle. After thepassenger gets in the vehicle, an occupant sitting on a front seat cannormally put on the seat belt 2 by setting the lap anchor 7 at theworking position a. The seat belt device 1 of this embodiment is notlimited to the vehicle of two-door type and is useful for vehicles of atype having a possibility that the lap belt 2 b including the lap anchor7 disturbs the action of a passenger.

[0072] The other structure and the other works and effects of the seatbelt device I according to this embodiment are the same as those of thepreceding embodiments.

[0073] FIGS. 12(a), 12(b) show another example of the mounting portionbetween the seat weight sensor and the slide bar, wherein FIGS. 12(a)and 12(b) are sectional views (sic) similar to FIGS. 10(d) and 10(e).

[0074] Though the holes 13 b are circular holes and the hole 19 e is anelongated hole in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10(d) and 10(e), theholes 13 b are elongated holes and the hole 19 is a circular hole inthis example as shown in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b).

[0075] The other structure and the other works and effects of the seatbelt device 1 according to this example are the same as those of theembodiment shown in FIG. 9 through FIG. 11(b).

[0076]FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10(c) showing avariation of the mounting portion between the seat weight sensor and theslide bar.

[0077] Though the mounting bolt 20 is simply inserted into the holes 13b of the mounting bracket 13 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10(c), acollar 34 is disposed between the both side walls 13 a of the mountingbracket 13 and another collar 35 is disposed between the side wall 13 aof the mounting bracket 13 and the other end 19 d of the slide bar 19 inthis example as shown in FIG. 13. By disposing the collars 34, 35 asmentioned above, the both side walls 13 a of the mounting bracket 13 isprevented from being deformed, thereby rigidly fixing the slide bar 19to the both side walls 13 a of the mounting bracket 13.

[0078] The other structure and the other works and effects of the seatbelt device 1 according to this example are the same as those of theembodiment shown in FIG. 9 through FIG. 11(b).

[0079]FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing another exemplaryembodiment of the mounting structure of the slide bar. Though themounting bracket 13 for mounting the slide bar 19 also serves as the pinbracket of the seat weight sensor 8 in the examples shown in FIG. 9through FIG. 13, the mounting bracket of this example is a separatemember from the pin bracket 8 a of the seat weight sensor 8. In thisexample, the seat rail 10 has an extended portion 10 a. A mountingbracket 13 having a configuration like a square-cylinder block is fixedto the extended portion 10 a by fasteners 36 such as rivets or bolts.Similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 9-13, an end 19 b of a slide bar19 is attached to the mounting bracket 13 by a mounting bolt 20 passingthrough the mounting bracket 13 in the lateral direction of the vehicleand a nut 27. In this case, the nut 27 has a projection 27 a whichfunctions as a locking member for preventing the loosing of the nut 27after fastened. The remaining structure of this example is the same asthat of the examples of FIGS. 9-13.

[0080] In the seat belt device show in FIG. 14, the slide bar 19 isdirectly attached to the seat rail 10, but is not attached to the seatweight sensor 8. Therefore, in the event of relatively light collisionof the vehicle, the load applied from the seat belt 2 to the slide bar19 is transmitted from the slide bar 19 to the seat rail 10 of thevehicle seat rather than to the seat weight sensor 8. As a result, theperformance of the seat weight sensor 8 can be ensured in the event of arelatively light collision of the vehicle.

[0081] As the nut 27 for mounting the slide bar 19 is a nut with aprojection 27 a (which functions as a locking member for preventing theloosing of the nut 27), the need for a special part to prevent theloosing of the nut can be eliminated. As a result, the number of partsis reduced while ensuring the fastening by the nut 27. The otherfunctions and effects of this example are the same as those of theexamples of FIGS. 9-13.

[0082] It should be noted that the end 19 b of the slide bar 19 does nothave to be attached to the seat rail 10 of the vehicle seat and insteadmay be attached to other portions of the vehicle seat or the vehiclebody.

[0083]FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 14, butshowing another exemplary embodiment of the mounting structure of theslide bar. In this exemplary embodiment, though the slide bar 19 isattached by the mounting bolt 20 extending in the lateral direction ofthe vehicle (similar to the example shown in FIG. 14), the slide bar 19is also attached by a mounting bolt 38 extending in the verticaldirection (up/down direction) of the vehicle. In other words, inaddition to the mounting bracket 13, a second mounting bracket 37 havingan L-like configuration and a second mounting bolt 38 for attaching theslide bar 19 to the second mounting bracket 37 are provided. Inaddition, although the bush (or collar) 25 and the CS ring 26 used inthe example shown in FIG. 14 are omitted in this example, these partsmay be used also in this example embodiment similarly to the exampleshown in FIG. 14.

[0084] The second mounting bracket 37 is provided with a hole 37 athrough which the mounting bolt 20 is inserted and which is formed in avertical portion of the second mounting bracket 37 and opens laterally(left/right direction of the vehicle). In addition, the second mountingbracket 37 is provided with a hole 37 b through which the secondmounting bolt 38 is inserted and which is formed in a lateral portion ofthe second mounting bracket 37 and opens vertically (up/down directionof the vehicle).

[0085] On the other hand, the slide bar 19 is formed such that the end19 b thereof lies laterally to set the opening direction of a hole 19 cthereof to be vertical. Similar to the aforementioned examples, themounting bolt 20 is inserted, in the lateral direction of the vehicle(left/right direction of the vehicle), into a wave washer 21, holes 13 bof the mounting bracket 13, a wave washer 24, and the laterally openedhole 37 a of the second mounting bracket 37 and is screwed with a nut27, thereby fixing the second mounting bracket 37 to the mountingbracket 13.

[0086] Then, the end 19 b of the slide bar 19 is positioned on the uppersurface of the lateral portion of the second mounting bracket 37 and thesecond mounting bolt 38 is inserted, in the vertical direction of thevehicle (up/down direction of the vehicle), into the hole 19 c of theslide bar 19 and the vertically opened hole 37 b of the second mountingbracket 37 and is screwed with a nut (not shown), thereby fixing theslide bar 19 to the second mounting bracket 37. The nut into which thesecond mounting bolt 38 is screwed may be integrally formed with thesecond mounting bracket 37 or separately formed from the second mountingbracket 37. The remaining structure of the FIG. 15 embodiment is thesame as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14.

[0087] In the seat belt device of shown in FIG. 15, as the secondmounting bolt 38 for mounting the slide bar 19 is fasten to extend inthe vertical direction of the vehicle, an easy installation of the slidebar 19 may be achieved, thus improving the assembling work of the slidebar 19. The other functions and effects of this exemplary embodiment arethe same as those of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14.

[0088] Though the seat belt device of the present invention is adoptedto a three-point seat belt device in the description of theaforementioned embodiments, the seat belt device of the presentinvention may be adopted to any type of seat belt devices where a seatweight sensor 8 is installed below a vehicle seat 9 and an end of a seatbelt 2 is connected to the seat weight sensor or a vehicle body.

[0089] A seat belt device of the present invention can be suitablyapplied to a seat belt device for a vehicle which is provided with aseat weight sensor, installed below a vehicle seat, for measuring a seatload applied to the vehicle seat, of which a seat belt for restrainingand protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat is connected to avehicle body at least on a side of the vehicle seat.

[0090] The priority applications, Japanese Patent Application No.2003-16498, filed on Jan. 24, 2003 and Japanese Patent Application No.2003-290194, filed on Aug. 8, 2003, including the specification,drawings, claims and abstract, are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

[0091] Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in theart would appreciate that there may be other embodiments andmodifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly,all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the presentdisclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are tobe included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scopeof the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat belt device comprising: a seat belt forrestraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lapanchor fixed to an end of the seat belt; and wherein the action of theseat belt device is controlled on the basis of a seat load measured by aseat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat, a hitch memberincluding two ends and a slide bar therebetween, wherein one end isattached to one of the vehicle body, the vehicle seat fixed to thevehicle body, or the seat weight sensor fixed to the vehicle body, and asecond end is fixed to the vehicle body, and wherein the lap anchor isslidably attached to the slide bar.
 2. A seat belt device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein at least one of the two ends is fixed by the insertionof a mounting bolt extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.3. A restraint system comprising: a seat belt for restraining andprotecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lap anchor fixed toan end of the seat belt; and a hitch member including two ends and aslide bar therebetween, wherein one end is attached to one of thevehicle body, the vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body, or a seatweight sensor fixed to the vehicle body, and a second end is fixed tothe vehicle body, and wherein the lap anchor is slidably attached to theslide bar.
 4. A restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at leastone of the two ends is fixed by the insertion of a mounting boltextending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
 5. A restraintsystem comprising: a seat belt for restraining and protecting anoccupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lap anchor fixed to an end of theseat belt; wherein the action of the seat belt device is controlled onthe basis of a seat load measured by a seat weight sensor installedbelow the vehicle seat, a hitch member including two ends and a slidebar therebetween; wherein the lap anchor is slidably attached to theslide bar; and wherein one end of the hitch member is attached to eitherthe vehicle body or the vehicle seat so that the operation of the seatweight sensor is not affected by the load applied from the lap anchor tothe slide bar.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second end of thehitch member is connected to the vehicle body.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the second end of the hitch member is connected to the vehiclebody by a vertically extending bolt.